The Renegade Forensics Team has won numerous awards this year. At September’s Raisin Center Invitational, the team took home more than a dozen awards and also came in second place in the community college division.
In October, the team took part in two back-to-back senior level tournaments.
They went up against students from such colleges as Arizona State University, USC and UCLA.
It took eighth place at the first tournament, the Biola’s Todd Lewis Invitational, and seventh place at the second tournament, the Asuza Pacific University’s Cougar Classic, according to Helen Acosta, the director of forensics.
“Some people do this because they get a real rush from it,” Acosta said. “Most of the students started out in high school and found out that they were really good at it. Other students started out by just taking a basic class here at BC and then were told by their instructor that they should join her forensic team.”
This is Sergio Perez’s first semester on the forensics team.
“I was on the forensics team for three years in high school. That’s when I really got involved with speaking and I really enjoyed it,” he said. “It’s very different than high school, a lot more people, but it’s still a lot of fun.”
Andrea Thorson, a sophomore, was a finalist at last month’s tournament in the open duo interpretation division. She also won the bronze last year at nationals.
“This is my third semester on the team,” she said. “I have always liked acting and being in front of an audience. My mother was a forensics coach at Foothill High so I’ve just always been around it since such an early age.”
With all its recent success, Acosta is proud of her team.
“They really stand out,” she said. “I’m so proud of then all. We really have such an amazing team.”